Government Imposes One-Dog Policy

Be glad you don’t live in Guangzhou, a wealthy urban area one hour north of Hong Kong. As of July 1, each household will be limited to one dog, no exceptions. If you have multiple dogs, they will not be grandfathered in. You will have to choose. I have five dogs. How could I possibly choose which one to keep? How would I find loving homes for the other four?

This strict new law is intended to cut down on China’s rampant stray dog population and combat rabies. Last year, more than 2,000 people died after being bitten by a rabid dog.

Instead of punishing people and ultimately, their dogs, why doesn’t the government educate its citizens about responsible dog ownership? If more people spayed/neutered their dogs and contained them instead of letting them run loose, there would be long-term benefits instead of a superficial image overhaul.

Julia Kamysz Lane, owner of Spot On K9 Sports and contributing editor at The Bark, is the author of multiple New Orleans travel guides, including Frommer’sNew Orleans Day by Day (3rd Edition). Her work has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Poets and Writers and Publishers Weekly.